"You did what??" Melissa asked in disbelief. Tori was slightly taken aback at her friends reaction.
"Mel, it wasn't bad or anything," she said. "It was all completely innocent."
"Completely innocent?" Melissa repeated. "Completely innocent? Like it was 'completely innocent' how I got pregnant at age 15?"
"Mel nothing happened," said Tori. "I'm telling you, it really was completely innocent. No sex. We just fell asleep, that's all."
"Tori, I know temptation. And spending the night with your boyfriend is awfully tempting," she said. "And you're telling me that in the midst of all that temptation, nothing happened at all?"
"Yes," Tori nodded. "That's what I'm telling you. Okay, sure. . .we kissed and cuddled and blah blah blah. But that's what we always do. It was nothing more than normal."
"Yeah? Well let me tell you this, a lot of that 'nothing more than normal' crap will start to get old in your head if you keep spending the night, and 'nothing more than normal' will turn into 'more than normal'. Don't make the same mistake I did Tori," Melissa went on. "I don't want to preach to you. . .just be careful."
"Did you ask?" the girl asked her friend. "What did he say? Is it good? Is he going to call you? Did you tell him it was me? Does he know anything?"
"Jess! Calm down!" Maureen screamed in frusteration. "I swear, if you keep up like that I'm not going to tell you anything!"
"Sorry," she said. "But what about it?"
Maureen sighed. "Okay, after the confusion over which Ryan you liked was settled, Dan told me that Ryan has no girlfriend, and he will call me later when he finds out exactly what Ryan wants in a girl."
"Ahh!! Reenie this is so wicked!" Jessica screamed. "You have no idea how bad I want to have just one date with him."
"Jess, I do. You've only told me about a million times," she said. "I don't see what the big deal is. He's not all that good looking."
"Are you kidding me?" Jessica asked. "You cannot be serious! Ryan Stever is so. . .so. . .words can't ever describe how completely gorgeous he is. And he's talented too, and you know how bad I have it for guitarists. I'm telling you, he's so perfect for me."
"Um, Jess how can you be so sure you're perfect for each other if you've never even really spoken to the guy?"
"Reenie, you have no sense of romance," Jessica rolled her eyes at her friend. "You obviously know nothing about love at first sight."
Maureen sighed and looked out her window. "Yeah. . .nothing at all."
"Hey Stever, what's up dude?" asked Dan.
"Not much. Just working on some songs," Stever said into the phone. "What's up with you?"
"Same thing. Well. . .Melissa's leaving for England tonight," he replied.
"Oh yeah? How long is she gonna be gone?"
"Three weeks this time, but that's okay. I mean, we have that tour starting soon, so that'll help take my mind off her for a little bit."
"Just be glad that you at least have someone to take your mind off of," Stever replied somewhat sullenly.
"Hey, I'm sorry man."
Don't go thinking you have to walk on eggshells around me just because I'm lonely."
"You know thats not what I meant."
"Whatever," he said, and sighed. "Maybe I should just go back to Nicci."
"Dude if you were in front of me right now I'd slap you," Dan said with all seriousness in his voice. He figured now was as good a time as any. "Hey. . .uh. Today at school some chick named Maureen came to talk to me. . ."
"Aw man not anothe obsessed fan story," Stever interrupted. If there was one thing he really couldn't stand it was screaming obsessed fans.
"No, if you would let me finish-"
"Fine, continue," he interrupted again.
"Okay, so some chick named Maureen came up to me, and she claims to have this friend who has a crush on you," he said. "I guess her 'friend' wanted to know if you'd be willing to go out with her."
"I take it you don't think she's really talking about a friend?"
"It's possible, but I have my doubts."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know. . .just a feeling I guess," he said. "She's not really the best looking girl, but if she actually tried she could be."
"Dan you know thats not important to me," Stever replied.
"I know that, but I was just saying. . .I don't know."
". . .So her name is Maureen," Stever repeated. "And she or some possible non-existent friend has a crush on me."
"Yup, thats what I gather," Dan confirmed.
Stever remained silent on his end of the phone for a moment. Dan was just about to say something, when Stever finally spoke. "Are they crazy?"